Michael Starring Ben

Beethoven Overture Leonora No. 3 Haydn Cello Concerto in C Dvořák Symphony No. 9, ‘From the New World’ Conductor Shiyeon Sung Cello Zlatomir Fung (RPO Artist-in-Residence 2023/24) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra continue their 2023/24 season at the Derngate with a piece made famous by bread (of all things!), known as the music from Hovis’ ‘Boy on the Bike’ adverts. Written during a trip to America, it combines Dvořák’s signature Czech rhythms with the sounds of American spirituals. RPO Artist-in-Residence Zlatomir Fung performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major. Unearthed in 1961, two centuries after it was written, it swiftly gained popularity for its sense of joy and optimism from the cello’s triumphant opening chord in the first movement. Virtuosic and vivacious displays of musical agility are heard in the rapturous third movement with its dancing melody shared between the soloist and Orchestra.

Huggyflare performing at The Wig And Pen

THE ORIGINAL TRIBUTE TO THE CURE ‘THE CUREHEADS’ RETURN TO NORTHAMPTON TO PLAY ROADMENDER ON FRIDAY 29TH MARCH. THE CUREHEADS HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE 1990 AND CELEBRATED 30 YEARS TOGETHER IN 2020. THEY HAVE RECREATED THE LOOK, SOUND AND ATMOSPHERE OF SHOWS BY THE CURE AND HAVE TAKEN THEIR SHOW AROUND THE UK, SPAIN, FRANCE, ITALY, EASTERN EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, JAPAN AND THE USA. FOR THE 2024 SHOWS THE CUREHEADS WILL BE CELEBRATING THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLASSIC ALBUM THREE IMAGINARY BOYS REVISITING A FEW TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM AS WELL AS PLAYING A SELECTION OF THE BEST TRACKS FROM ACROSS THE DECADES WITH A FAN PLEASING MIXTURE FROM ALL ERAS FROM THE BIG ORIGINAL HITS AS WELL AS CLASSIC ALBUM TRACKS.

Join Mr. Bubbles with his extraordinary soap bubbles in all shapes and sizes! The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, science and bubble art! Enjoy bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles, and even fire bubbles! Actor, storyteller, and Guinness World Record holder, The Highland Joker, is one of the top bubble artists in the world, bringing you an interactive, fun, international award-winning bubble extravaganza! Best Family-Act award, Face TV New Zealand 2016 Audience Choice Award, Nelson Fringe 2018 Top Children’s Entertainer Award, New Zealand Variety Artists club 2019 As seen in the Guinness World Record Book 2020 & 2023

International sensation What’s Love Got To Do With It? is back with a brand new cast! The exciting live show celebrating the music of Tina Turner is getting back on the road with a huge tour across the UK. The massive debut tour of What’s Love Got To Do With It? launched in February 2019 and quickly proved to be the ultimate tribute show with audiences packing out theatres and arenas across the UK and Europe. Brought to you by the award-winning producers behind the hugely successful Whitney – Queen Of The Night, What’s Love Got To Do With It? pays homage to one of the most iconic and much-loved musical artists of the 20th Century. In this exciting touring theatre show, audiences can expect a night of high energy with feel-good rock-and-roll featuring Tina’s greatest hits performed by the amazing vocal talent of Holly Bannis (Whitney – Queen Of The Night, ITV’s Starstruck) supported by a full 10-piece live band. Audiences can look forward to hearing stunning musical arrangements of Tina’s most-loved classic hits including Private Dancer, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Proud Mary, River Deep, Nutbush City Limits, Simply The Best and many more. This not-to-be missed musical experience is a stunning celebration of one of the greatest female singers of our time. What’s Love...

Oh What A Lovely War# More than a century on from the Armistice, Oh What A Lovely War remains a classic of the modern theatre and a powerful reminder of the atrocities of a war that cost twenty million lives. Wildly satirical, visually stunning and deeply moving, Oh What a Lovely War is a theatrical experience like no other; a fusion of live music, movement, songs and sketches bringing to life the folly, farce and tragedy of the First World War. Now, more than ever, it holds a mirror up to the world and speaks to us all. Full cast has now been announced. Oh What a Lovely War stars Christopher Arkeston (Only Fools and Horses: The Musical), 2023 Rose Bruford graduate Tom Crabtree, Harry Curley (Caligari), Alice E Mayer (Frankenstein), Chioma Uma (Brief Encounter) and Euan Wilson (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The production is directed by Nicky Allpress (The Shape of Things), with musical direction by Ellie Verkerk (Burnt City, The Color Purple, SIX) and movement direction by Adam Haigh (Ruddigore).

Seventy minutes. Seven seasons. One Spike. This fast-paced gem brings you the entire 144 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as told through the eyes of the one person who knows it inside out…Spike. Buffy Revamped tours the UK this Autumn following its award-winning Edinburgh Fringe premiere in 2022 and two sold-out national tours. Funny, satirical and bursting with 90s pop-culture references, it’s the perfect parody for Buffy aficionados and those who never enrolled at Sunnydale High alike. Created by comedian Brendan Murphy whose last show, FRIEND (The One with Gunther), won Best Play at the World Wide Comedy Awards. Winner: Best One Person Show and Best Comedy Performance at the Dark Chat Awards 2022.

Legendary Manchester band Happy Mondays have announced their first headline tour in five years. ‘The Been There Done That Tour’ will head to Northampton for Spring 2024, joined by very special guests and fellow ‘90s British music icons, Inspiral Carpets and Stereo MC’s. Happy Mondays, featuring original lineup – front man Shaun Ryder, Bez (freaky dancing and percussion), Rowetta (vocals) Mark Day (guitar), Gary Whelan (drums) and Dan Broad (MD/guitar/keys) will perform the band’s classic hits such as ‘24 Hour Party People’, ‘Step On’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Loose Fit’, ‘Judge Fudge’, ‘W.F.L.’ and ‘Kinky Afro’, amongst many others. Doors 6pm Music from 7pm

For the first time ever, Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey are set to embark on a joint UK theatre tour, with their much-anticipated live theatre show. This husband and wife and team have changed tens of thousands of lives with their international bestselling books (The Fast 800, Fast 800 Recipe book etc), award-winning programmes (Trust Me I’m a Doctor), and podcasts (Just One Thing). In this informative, entertaining, and highly interactive live show, the health gurus will share their latest health tips, do cooking demos and show behind the scenes clips from upcoming TV series. With mental and physical health problems on the rise, Michael and Clare will reveal how simple changes can transform your life, so we can all Eat well, Sleep better, and Live longer!